Romsey wins heart-stopping elimination final, ending Riddell’s premiership defence

Romsey claimed its first finals win since 2015 and ending Riddell’s premiership defence in one of the all-time RDFNL elimination finals on Sunday.

Nathan Rayment and Darcy Lockens celebrate a goal. Picture: Josh Chadwick

A final for the ages.

Romsey ended Riddell’s RDFNL premiership defence in one of the all-time elimination finals, snaring a heart-stopping five-points win at Gilbert Gordon Oval.

The Bombers led by six points at three-quarter-time before a pulsating final term saw 9.10 kicked combined.

Corey Pertzel levelled the scores in the second minute and Jack Jedwab put the Redbacks in front shortly after, a lead they would not relinquish.

A Nathan Rayment goal, his third of the day, with five minutes remaining proved the match-winner as it finished 14.13 (97) to 13.14 (92).

Corey Pertzel in action for Romsey. Picture: Josh Chadwick

Romsey coach Justin Sherman said it was a “special win” and among the best games he’d ever been a part of.

“It had everything, big moments, hard contests, back with the flight, one team would kick a goal then the other would kick a goal, it was just a cracking game of footy,” he said.

“We probably left our best for last, we’d been looking for a four-quarter performance and I was really proud of the group delivering when it counts.

“We felt like we had control in the last seven or eight minutes, playing in our forward half, so we knew it would have to be a miracle bounce for it to go their way.

“It shows our character and resilience, from where we were mid-year losing four or five in a row, we could have put our head down and gone backwards.

“We stayed tight and stayed united and here we are, we hadn’t won a final since 2015, and to beat the reigning premier it doesn’t get much sweeter than that.”

Riddell held a narrow three-point lead at quarter-time before Romsey went into half-time just a point in front.

Tommy Alkemade booted a goal a minute before the three-quarter-time siren to put the Bombers six point up but Romsey had a final chance only to see Matt Burkett’s long-range shot fall short.

Ali Khalil in action for Romsey. Picture: Josh Chadwick

Pertzel slotted a classy running goal in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter and Jedwab won a contested ball in the goalsquare to poke home and put the Redbacks in front.

After three straight behinds, Rayment made it a 15-point lead before Alkemade broke the drought for Riddell with his fourth goal.

Darcy Lockens stretched Romsey’s lead to 16 before the Bombers snatched back the momentum with goals to Oscar Besanko and Haydn Ross as the deficit narrowed to just two points.

Rayment’s third gave Romsey breathing room at eight points before Nathan Croft won a free kick and made it a two-point game once again.

Romsey was able to lock the ball in its attacking half in the final five minutes, Jack Jedwab taking a critical intercept mark, but Rayment and Joel De Haas couldn’t find the sealer.

However, it proved enough to secure the Redbacks a semi-final meeting with Woodend-Hesket.

Romsey big man Ben Way was dominant in the ruck, earning best-on-ground honours, while Rayment, Pertzel and Jaxon Kinnear also impressed.

“I said to Benny after the game he was our Max Gawn, he was super,” Sherman said.

“He was grabbing it out of the ruck, winning clearances, giving us first use and being aggressive in the ruck.

“It was the first real time we’ve had good first service and we capitalised on the back of that, Benny was unbelievable.

“It allowed our mids to get aggressive and that’s how you win finals, you’ve got to take the game on and be bold.”

For Riddell, Alkemade was a clear leader, while Jesse Horton, Brodie Miller and Dylan Tarczon were all valiant.

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On Saturday, Diggers Rest will face Wallan in the major semi-final at Romsey Park, while Woodend-Hesket takes on Romsey at on its home deck, Gilbert Gordon Oval.

Sherman is confident his team can keep its momentum going.

“I was at the (qualifying final), they were coming hard at the end of the game but then Wallan kicked a couple against the grain,” he said.

“Woodend is a quality team, we’re going to have to be at our best again – we know that – but we embrace those challenges. We’ll thrive on that.”